Packaging for a switch cabinet

ABSTRACT

Packaging for dismantled switch cabinet components, whereby the individual components or component sub-assemblies are respectively packed using partial packaging having one or several packaging components. In order to minimize packaging expenditure, the packaging components can also be used as an outer lining for the switch cabinet when assembled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to packaging for the components of a disassembledswitchgear cabinet or a disassembled switchgear cabinet rack,hereinafter also called switchgear cabinet for short, wherein theindividual components or groups of components are each packed in apartial package of one or several package elements.

2. Description of Related Art

In a known form of distribution, the switchgear cabinets are deliveredto the customers in a disassembled state. Thus, the prefabricated partsof the switchgear cabinet are respectively packed together individuallyor in groups. The customer can then unpack the individual components andassemble the switchgear cabinet. However, it is often necessary for theassembled switchgear cabinet to be temporarily stored or conveyed.Because the switchgear cabinet is not protected by packaging material,damage can occur. Relief is then provided because repackaging of theassembled switchgear cabinet is provided by the customer.

Packaging for a refrigerator is known from German Patent Reference DE 4414 813. The packaging has a cover at the bottom and one at the top. Therefrigerator can be placed into the cover on the bottom. The cover atthe top rests on the cover of the refrigerator. A lateral coveringextends between the covers at the top and at the bottom, which isembodied as a hose made of a fabric. Tightening straps are used forconnecting the covers at the bottom and the top.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of this invention to provide packaging for a switchgearcabinet, wherein a considerable reduction of the packaging outlay isachieved.

This object is attained with the characteristics described in thisspecification and in the claims.

Thus, the packaging material for the components of the switchgearcabinet can be converted so that it can also be used for covering theassembled switchgear cabinet. Thus, no additional packaging outlay isrequired.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, one orseveral lateral coverings can be used as packaging material for one orseveral lateral switchgear cabinet elements, for example lateral walls,cabinet doors or the like. In accordance with this invention it istherefore possible to separately pack the bottom and cover componentgroups, as well as the lateral switchgear cabinet elements as componentsof the switchgear cabinet. These components in particular also definethe lateral surfaces of the switchgear cabinet to be covered when theswitchgear cabinet is assembled. Thus, in accordance with thisinvention, the components are packaged so that the associated packagingmaterial can again be used as a cover for these components, even whenthe switchgear cabinet is assembled.

In order to be able to enclose the ready-assembled switchgear cabinetquickly and simply with little outlay, in one embodiment of thisinvention the covers at the bottom and top each have a bottom, fromwhich a circumferential edge is angled off, wherein in the assembledstate of the switchgear cabinet the bottom rests against the outside atthe bottom or the top of the bottom and cover component groups and theedge is arranged at a distance with respect to the bottom/covercomponent group, so that an insertion area results between thebottom/cover component group and the edge, into which plug-in inserts ofthe lateral coverings can be inserted. The system of packaging aswitchgear cabinet can then proceed so that first the individual partsof the switchgear cabinet are unwrapped from the partial packages.Thereafter, one of the covers is placed on the floor, wherein its edgesare upwardly directed. The switchgear cabinet can then be placed on thebottom of this cover. Subsequently the plug-in inserts of the lateralcoverings can be inserted into the insertion area between the edge andthe bottom component group. Then the second cover, which covers thecover component group, can be placed on the inserted lateral coverings.During this the facing plug-in inserts of the lateral coverings alsoenter into the insertion areas. The packaging assembled in this way canthen be secured by adhesive strips or strapping tape.

In their function as covering elements for the assembled switchgearcabinet, the lateral coverings can be embodied so that they have twolegs, spaced apart parallel from each other, which are connected witheach other in a U-shape by means of a connecting section. The connectingsection completely covers a side of the switchgear cabinet, and the legscover the adjoining sides of the switchgear cabinet, at least partially.Two U-shaped lateral coverings, whose legs are directed toward eachother, can be used, in particular for covering the assembled switchgearcabinet.

However, it is also possible for the lateral coverings to have two legsextending vertically with respect to each other, each of which covers aside of the switchgear cabinet, at least partially.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, thepackaging elements are of corrugated paperboard, which is covered on oneor both sides with cardboard. This material has a sufficient stability,which makes it possible to cover even large lateral surfaces of theassembled switchgear cabinet without the need for additional reinforcingmeasures. Moreover, the corrugated paperboard can be easily recycled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention will be explained in greater detail in view of anexemplary embodiment represented in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a switchgear cabinet rack in a perspective view from above,which is partially enclosed in packaging material;

FIG. 2 is a perspective frontal view of the switchgear cabinet rackshown in FIG. 1, but wherein packaging is further completed; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective lateral view of the completely packagedswitchgear cabinet rack in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A switchgear cabinet rack, which has a bottom and cover component group10, is represented in a perspective partial view in FIG. 1. The bottomcomponent group 10 is connected with the cover component group 10 viavertical profiled frame sections 11. The cover component group 10 isclosed off by means of a covering sheet metal piece 12 on the top. Theswitchgear cabinet rack can be enclosed in packaging material. Thepackaging material has four main components. These are in detail twocovers 20 and two lateral coverings 30. Each of the covers 20 and thelateral coverings 30 is constructed in the same way.

The cover 20 has a flat bottom 23, from which an edge 21, 22 is angledoff at right angles. The edge 21, 22 is formed over the circumference.As FIG. 2 shows, the lateral coverings 30 have two legs 31, which areparallel with each other and are connected with each other by means of aconnecting section 32.

For packaging the switchgear cabinet rack, the bottom component group 10is placed on the bottom 23 of the cover 20. In this case the edges 21,22 of the cover 20 are at a distance from the bottom component group 10,so that a circumferential insertion area 24 results. The lateralcoverings 30 can be inserted into the insert area 24 by means of plug-inshoulders. As FIG. 2 shows, the two connecting sections 32 of thelateral coverings 20 cover two sides of the switchgear cabinet rack. Thelegs 31 adjoining them at right angles partially cover the remainingsides of the switchgear cabinet rack. Here, end sections 33 of the legs31 of the two lateral coverings 30 are at a distance from each other. Itis also conceivable that the end sections 33 overlap each other.

As FIG. 3 shows, the completion of packaging takes place by means of afurther cover 20. The cover 20 is plugged over the lateral coverings 30.In the process, the plug-in shoulders on the top of the lateralcoverings 30 enter into the plug-in areas 24 formed between the edges21, 22 and the cover component group 10. In the assembled state of theupper cover 20, the bottom 23 rests on the covering sheet metal piece 12of the switchgear cabinet rack. To fix the individual packaging elementsin place, adhesive tapes or strapping tape can be used. The packagingrepresented in FIGS. 1 to 3 is also used for covering the individualparts of the switchgear cabinet. The bottom and cover component groups10 can be packed together as one packaging unit. The two covers 20 areused for this purpose. The two shell-shaped covers 20 are placed aroundthe bottom, and cover component groups 10 in such a way that they areenclosed on all sides. The lateral coverings 30 are used for packing thefront and the rear switchgear cabinet door. Each one of the switchgearcabinet doors is packed in its own lateral covering 30.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a packaging for containing components of aswitchgear cabinet, the improvement comprising: the components having abottom component group (10) and a top component group (10) and at leastone lateral switchgear cabinet element, the packaging having covers,including a first cover (20) at a bottom and a second cover (20) at atop, and at least one lateral covering (30), said lateral covering (30)defining at least one packaging element, the bottom component group (10)and the top component group (10) packaged with the first cover (20) andthe second cover (20), the at least one lateral switchgear cabinetelement packed in the at least one lateral covering (30), the at leastone packaging element covering the assembled switchgear cabinet, thefirst cover (20) covering the bottom component group (10) and the secondcover (20) covering the top component group (10) at least partially onthe bottom and on the top, the at least one lateral covering (30)extending between the first cover (20) and the second cover (20), andthe bottom component group (10) and the top component group (10)includes the first cover (20) on the bottom and the second cover (20) onthe top.
 2. In the packaging in accordance with claim 1, wherein the atleast one lateral covering (30) is a packaging material for the at leastone lateral switchgear cabinet element.
 3. In the packaging inaccordance with claim 2, wherein the first cover (20) at the bottom andthe second cover (20) at the top has a bottom (23) from which acircumferential edge (21, 22) is angled off, and in an assembled stateof the switchgear cabinet the bottom (23) rests against an outside atthe bottom or the top of the bottom component group (10) and the topcomponent group (10) and the edge (21, 22) is at a distance with respectto the bottom component group (10) and the top component group (10), sothat an insertion area (24) is between the bottom component group (10)and the top component group (10) and the edge (21, 22) into whichplug-in inserts of the at least one lateral covering (30) can beinserted.
 4. In the packaging in accordance with claim 3, wherein ascovering elements for the assembled switchgear cabinet, the at least onelateral covering (30) each has two legs (31) spaced apart parallel fromeach other and connected with each other in a U-shape with a connectingsection (32), the connecting section (32) completely covers a side ofthe switchgear cabinet, and the legs (31) at least partially coveradjoining sides of the switchgear cabinet.
 5. In the packaging inaccordance with claim 4, wherein for covering the assembled switchgearcabinet two U-shaped lateral coverings (30) are employed with the legs(31) directed toward each other.
 6. In the packaging in accordance withclaim 4, wherein as a covering element for the assembled switchgearcabinet, the at least one lateral covering (30) each has two legsextending vertically with respect to each other and each at leastpartially covers a side of the switchgear cabinet.
 7. In the packagingin accordance with claim 6, wherein the packaging elements havecorrugated paperboard covered on at least one side with cardboard. 8.Packaging in accordance with one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in thatthe packaging elements consist of corrugated paperboard, which iscovered on one or both sides with cardboard.
 9. In the packaging inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the first cover (20) at the bottom andthe second cover (20) at the top has a bottom (23) from which acircumferential edge (21, 22) is angled off, and in an assembled stateof the switchgear cabinet the bottom (23) rests against an outside atthe bottom or the top of the bottom component group (10) and the topcomponent group (10) and the edge (21, 22) is at a distance with respectto the bottom component group (10) and the top component group (10), sothat an insertion area (24) is between the bottom component group (10)and the top component group (10) and the edge (21, 22) into whichplug-in inserts of the at least one lateral covering (30) can beinserted.
 10. In the packaging in accordance with claim 1, wherein ascovering elements for the assembled switchgear cabinet, the at least onelateral covering (30) each has two legs (31) spaced apart parallel fromeach other and connected with each other in a U-shape with a connectingsection (32), the connecting section (32) completely covers a side ofthe switchgear cabinet, and the legs (31) at least partially coveradjoining sides of the switchgear cabinet.
 11. In the packaging inaccordance with claim 9, wherein for covering the assembled switchgearcabinet two U-shaped lateral coverings (30) are employed with the legs(31) directed toward each other.
 12. In the packaging in accordance withclaim 1, wherein as a covering element for the assembled switchgearcabinet, the at least one lateral covering (30) each has two legsextending vertically with respect to each other and each at leastpartially covers a side of the switchgear cabinet.
 13. In the packagingin accordance with claim 1, wherein the packaging elements havecorrugated paperboard covered on at least one side with cardboard.